Which practice reflects integrity in interactions with consumers?

• A. Respect consumer autonomy and maintain boundaries.
• B. Ignore consumer preferences to protect the provider's schedule.
• C. Share confidential information with others without consent.
• D. Accept gifts of any value without policy.

Answer: (A)

Integrity in interactions with consumers is shown by respecting the person’s autonomy and keeping professional boundaries. When you honor autonomy, you let consumers make informed choices about their services, involve them in decisions, and obtain consent for information sharing. Maintaining boundaries means staying professionally appropriate and avoiding over-familiarity or dual roles that could pressure or confuse the consumer. Together, these practices build trust, protect the consumer’s rights, and ensure support is voluntary and respectful.

The other approaches break this trust: ignoring a consumer’s preferences undermines self-determination; sharing confidential information without consent violates privacy and trust; and accepting gifts without a clear policy can create conflicts of interest and blur boundaries.